Hilary and her family came to the Constantia Forest for a mini-maternity session and the result was magic in just 30 minutes. Almost full term and glowing, their love for eachother shines through. Her belly is perfection. And how great are her husband’s shorts? He rocked those with style. I need a pair for my man!

They are proof that love makes family.

Birth packages all include a complimentary mini-maternity session just like this one. Its 30 minutes and so wonderfully quick that you will love it. If you are expecting and I’m fully booked for births or birth photography isn’t quite your thing, you can always book maternity/newborn sessions with me like this one. All of those packages include most gorgeous luxury heirloom album for you to enjoy all your photos of your screen and in your hands. Inquire here.

This is a birth about making peace, and truly sitting in that peace, when Plan A doesn’t happen. Vera and her husband made every preparation for a peaceful natural birth for their son. They researched and chose the right team/hospital. But when their baby simply would not turn from the breech position, despite all attempts, they made peace with Plan B.

It was beautiful to witness how they stayed connected throughout the process. How Vera practiced the same breathing and calming techniques she learned, applying them to keeping her c-section as peaceful as she hoped a vaginal birth could be. And Origin really worked to honour that for them in many ways.

I once heard they saying, “Success isn’t how perfectly we execute Plan A, as it is how we embrace Plan B”. That is exactly what they did. Daniel was born into a loving peaceful environment with parents overjoyed at his arrival. And not detail forgotten.

Scroll through to see their journey.

You might just find a BTS moment where you can see how I stand back and do my thing. Look for it.

My thanks to Daniel’s parents for hiring me and trusting me this day. Shared with their permission as always.

And thank you to the lovely professional staff at Origin who were so accommodating and respectful of the family’s wishes.

He’s the South African. And his running joke is “I imported her” (baram-ching). But little known fact, not how history played out. I was actually short term working here 10+ years ago with an NGO. Considering a move here.

Single as can be, he was not even on my radar.

Sitting on a beach one day, out of the blue I felt this almost audible word in my heart. The most rudimentary words I can use is that it was as if the voice of God said to me, “From these shores I will give you family.” I still get goosebumps when I think of it because it was such a defining moment in my life.

I had no idea what critical life chapters awaited. But lo and behold, within a year, this South African man came into my life (while I was in the US no less!) I had already decided to move here and he was in a transition, so he actually “followed me” if you will. He knew I was it for him, so geography was secondary.

Then we adopted a son and had two daughters, all locally. So by marriage, adoption and births, God has graciously given me South African family. All of my kids are dual citizens. I hope to be one day too.

And oddly enough, through my work I document the formation of families, locals and expats to South Africa. So while I am a foreigner in this land, my heart is deeply rooted here both as a business owner and as a wife and mother.

It’s incredible what the last decade has meant for our family. We had no idea how true those words would be for our lives, that from these shores such a beautiful family would come to be about.

Our marriage is deep friendship, real teamwork, tested in suffering, acquainted with forgiveness and robust with joy. I want to capture the essence of all of that after our first decade. I can’t even imagine what our second decade holds.

We commissioned Darren Bester with this celebration of ours. To capture for us the marking of our first decade and he did not disappoint. I wont spam you with every single photo, this is me doing my best to narrow it down to my favorites. I can’t recommend him enough.

He did for me what I can do for others but can’t physically do for myself. I wanted the same caliber of honest breathtaking images of my own family that I know are so important for my clients.

I’ve known the Besters for over 11 years now, long before our lives were filled with a combined 7 kids. They are dear friends who share so many similar values. Two of our children actually slept side by side in their infant place of safety before we adopted them. So the memories run deep. You can imagine how gutting it was when they moved away years ago.

They messaged me that they were coming to Cape Town for a visit and could they please hire me to do family portraits that felt like the Mother City even though they aren’t technically clients of mine.

Family sessions are normally exclusively offered to my existing clients only. So if you have (or one day plan to) hired me for your maternity/newborn sessions or birth coverage, I am available onwards to capture your family as it grows. I offer this exclusively to clients because of my limited availability and not the general public because I believe in the chemistry and trust required to get these images. It’s how I roll best.

But how in the world could I turn them down? It was my absolute honour and sometimes a tad bit intimidating to work for friends. What I loved most about this session is that we captured the essence of their family. The steamy-hot-even-in-the-madness love their marriage still enjoys. The wild and playful relationship with their kids. The deep enduring love they all have for eachother. They are proof that choice and belonging make family.

Thank you Besters for trusting me and bringing your A game. I can’t believe what a breeze this was with 4 kids. Enjoy their session.

You may remember this family’s birth story. How four years changes things! Their family is defined by overcoming. Rifqah and her husband have commissioned me to document their family annually. Her fight with cancer is a brutal one and only further highlights what a gift each year together really is.

So when I take these photos, I know the deeper meaning behind them. They are a celebration of how far they have come. They are also a reminder of how precious life is. Especially life TOGETHER.

Here are some of the year’s past (here & here) so you can see the progression.

I believe family sessions should include portraits not just your family, but of each child, your children together, you and your spouse with each child individually, and the often neglected… couple photos! Yes, because your relationship still matters and should be celebrated. By the way… they have been married over 10 years and still so in love! These are the photos your children will dig up for milestone anniversaries and their weddings.

Day In The Life Sessionsor Outdoor Family Sessions are exclusive for my clients as I have an ongoing relationship with them. I believe it takes a certain level of trust and report to photograph a family this intimately and my availability is mainly reserved for births. Some book them annually or for milestones. But should you book me for your birth or maternity/newborn, you will always be able to hire me again and again to capture the different stages your family is in as the years go by.

I look forward to many more years of documenting their family. Each time we will celebrate another year granted!